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Questions & Answers about Hanapin mo si Juan sa bakuran.
What does hanapin mo mean and how is it formed?
The verb hanapin is made up of the root hanap (“search/find”) plus the object‑focus suffix -in, and mo is the 2nd‑person singular clitic pronoun (“you”). Together as an imperative it literally means “You find…” or simply “Find…” (here: “Find Juan”).
Why use hanapin instead of maghanap?
Tagalog verbs have voice (focus) forms. maghanap is actor‑focus (focus on the act of searching), while hanapin is object‑focus (focus on the person or thing being searched). Because this sentence emphasizes locating Juan (the object), the object‑focus form hanapin is used.
What does the suffix -in do in hanapin?
The suffix -in marks the verb as object‑focus, making the object (Juan) the topic of the clause. It also often conveys a completed or definite action (“find it/found it”).
Why is mo attached to hanapin instead of standing alone?
In Tagalog, clitic pronouns like mo attach to the first stressed word of the clause—here, the verb. So hanapin mo is how you say “you find…” in a command. You wouldn’t say mo hanapin in standard Tagalog.
Why is si used before Juan, and not ang or ng?
si is the personal marker used specifically before singular proper names and kinship terms. ang marks common nouns/topics, and ng marks non‑subject noun phrases. Since Juan is a personal name and here functions as the direct object/topic in an object‑focus verb, we use si Juan.
What role does sa play in sa bakuran?
sa is a preposition indicating location—similar to “at,” “in,” or “on” in English. It marks bakuran (“yard”) as the place where you should look for Juan.
What does bakuran mean, and where does the word come from?
bakuran means “yard” or “courtyard.” It’s formed from bakod (“fence”) plus the locative suffix -an, literally “fenced‑in area.”
Can I move sa bakuran before si Juan in the sentence?
Yes. Tagalog allows some flexibility. Both
• Hanapin mo si Juan sa bakuran
• Hanapin mo sa bakuran si Juan
mean “Find Juan in the yard.”
How can I make this sentence sound more polite or like a request?
You can add polite particles or restructure it as a question. For example:
• Hanapin mo po si Juan sa bakuran. (adds po for respect)
• Pwede mo bang hanapin si Juan sa bakuran? (“Could you find Juan in the yard?”)
• Pakihanap mo po si Juan sa bakuran. (uses paki‑ to soften the request)